MMI’s first project in the Philippines was in 1985 to the mostly Muslim island of Jolo. In 2010, MMI held its first eye project in the Philippines. Our hope is that the Philippines will continue to develop as a hub of MMI activity as we continue to explore how to develop a permanent center as well as multiple residencies in the country.
Project Sites
MMI teams share their love and concern for those less fortunate on the island of Mindanao at the T’Boli Evangelical Clinic in T’Boli and Bethel Baptist Hospital in Malaybalay. Both T’Boli and Malaybalay are villages located on the southern island of Mindanao.
Many of the patients will have goiters from iodine deficiency. There will be many hernia and cleft lip cases as well. All types of general medical/surgical supplies and medications are needed for this mission.
Housing
Accommodations will be either in a guesthouse or a modest hotel. Detailed information will follow in packets of information sent from the Texas office. Hot showers are rare, so you may want to pack a solar shower. Meals will be a blend of Filipino and Western tastes – lots of fruit, vegetables, rice, and different types of meat.
Electricity is 220 volts, so pack a converter if you are carrying electrical devices.
More About the Philippines
The Philippines is an archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, with a land area slightly larger than the state of Arizona. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with extensive narrow low-laying coastlands.
The Philippines were ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. They attained their independence in 1946 after being occupied by the Japanese in World War II. In 1992, the US closed down its last military bases on the islands. Today the Philippines is a Democratic Republic with its capital city being Manila.
Weather
Tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October).
People & Economy
Currency: Philippine peso (P)
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing.
Agriculture: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef, fish.
People
Population: 81.1 million.
Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Literacy: 94.6%
Religion: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Language: Filipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)
